The appointment of Australia's first female Prime Minister has been welcomed by the Women's Electoral Lobby, however the group fears the knives may already be out for Julia Gillard.

Eva Cox, the chair of the Women's Electoral Lobby, a feminist non-party political lobby group, says she is delighted to see Julia Gillard elevated to the position of Prime Minister.

"I've been waiting for it for a long time. It's been in the wings for a very long time. I'm delighted it's happening," Eva Cox told Celine Foenander on the ABC Gippsland Morning program.

However, Ms Cox says she is already scared that opponents may use the way Gillard assumed power against her.

"I think there will be flak upon her because of the way she got in, in a way that wouldn't necessarily happen to a man.

"I think she's made of the right stuff. The question is - is the Australian population made of the right stuff. Will they take her for what she is, which is a highly intelligent, competent, woman? Or not?"

Eva Cox says gender is still very much an issue in Australian politics.

"You've only got to look at the way they talk about her dress, about her hair, about various other things. We still judge women on different sorts of criteria than men, so I think we need to accept the fact that it's not an even playing field, that women are judged differently.

Meanwhile, Gippsland voters have responded positively to the news of Julia Gillard's appointment to the position of Prime Minister.

"'I think it's the best thing that ever happened to the Labour party," said one man. "I don't think Rudd was going to take them anywhere. I think she's more of a person's person and I think she's a better negotiator."

On the issue of her gender, one lady said: "I think it's great for women that there is finally a woman in charge of Australia."